While more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before, many of them still face a painful -- and often permanent -- side effect.

The condition, called lymphedema, causes serious swelling in the arms and legs of millions of breast cancer patients.

Charlene Cathey, for example, beat breast cancer, but her lymphedema affects her every day, especially when she gets dressed in the morning.

"It took away half of my wardrobe," she said. "So a lot of things in my wardrobe that I cannot wear because this one arm is swollen."

That swelling is caused by a buildup of lymph fluid that normally moves through the body to remove toxins. But when lymph nodes are removed, the lymph drainage system can malfunction, allowing fluid to pool in the arms and legs.

It happens to about one out of every three women who undergo breast cancer surgery. Dr. Electra Paskett was one of them.

"When I was diagnosed eight years ago and they found lymphedema, I was amazed that there was so little known about it, and nobody talked about it," said Paskett, of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Paskett is launching a national study to see if new treatment guidelines can help.

The guidelines include teaching patients about lymphedema and the precautions they should take. For example many don't realize that something as simple as stubbing a toe can trigger a lifetime of swelling and require daily use of a pump to reduce it. Cathey's lymphedema began when she barely bumped a finger on a door.

"If we can raise awareness, then women will be able to identify any problems early and also they can be treated," Paskett. "And they won't have to suffer the consequences."

There is little Cathey can do about her lymphedema, but she's hoping that this study could someday mean a better future for future generations of survivors.

While lymphedema is linked to cancer surgery, it can occur anytime the lymph vessels are damaged or the nodes are missing. It can last anywhere from a few months to the rest of your life.

In many cases, a program of special massage to open up lymphatics and a compression wrap of the arm or leg can dramatically decrease the swelling.